
Book.__ t ^2 L __ 
Copyright M>_ 

COPYRIGHT DEPOSE 



The Religious Condition 
of Young Men 



A STUDY 



BY 

JAMES F. OATES 

Secretary Central Department 
Young Men's Christian Association of Chicago 



With a Preface by 

GEORGE A. COE 



Professor of Philosophy 
at Northwestern University 



Published by 

The Central Department 

Young Men's Christian Association 

of Chicago 



1901 



THE LIBRARY OF 
CONGRESS, 

Two Copies Received 

JUN. 8 1901 

Copyright entry 

CJ.ASS C^XXc. N®. 

COPY B. 



4 



'0 



aS 



1 



^ 0' 



& 



COPYRIGHT I 90 I 

By JAMES F. OATES 



PREFACE. 



The assumption underlying this Study is that Christian 
workers need definite and specialized knowledge of the 
classes of persons to which they minister. As a manu- 
facturer of steel studies the chemical constitution of his 
materials and measures the strains and stresses which his 
product will bear, so the methods and results of psychology 
and sociology should be harnessed in the service of religion. 
I am convinced not only that this assumption is just, but 
also that the near future is to witness many a transfor- 
mation in religious work through such consecration of 
intellect. 

The present Study is an excellent foretaste of the pos- 
sibilities in this direction. It aims less, however, at im- 
mediate practical results than to illustrate a standpoint and 
a method. The standpoint seems to me self-evidently 
sound, and the method well matured and capable of many 
important applications. I am inclined to think, too, that 
the practical inferences that may be drawn from the essay 
are more numerous and important than will appear from 
any but a very careful reading. These inferences, in fact, 
the reader is expected to discover for himself. But it 
should be said that the many-sidedness, both theoretical 
and practical, of the problems here attacked can be 
adequately appreciated only by one who has attempted to 



work out such a problem for himself. This is, perhaps, 
particularly true of Chapter V. I have read the responses 
upon which this chapter is based, and they have produced 
such an impressive picture of conditions among city men 
as can be had, so far as I am aware, in no other way. 

Though the Study has peculiarly direct reference to 
the work of the Young Men's Christian Association, its 
contents have significance for all who are interested in the 
Kingdom of God. May it awaken many persons to the 
kind of consecration of which it is an example ! 

George A. Coe. 

Northwester?! University, April, igoi. 



Author's Preface. 



The present study was prepared for and read before 
the General Secretaries of the Young Men's Christian 
Association, at their biennial conference, held at Thousand 
Island Park, New York, June 6-10, 1900. 

As stated in the context, no special claim is made for 
the general value of the results secured. If any merit 
lies in the study, it is in the methods set forth. 

Starting with the assumption that to work successfully 
among young men one must know young men, we have 
tried to suggest methods for securing such information. 

There was no thought at first of printing the Study, 
at least not until much additional work had been done. 
Numerous and urgent requests from fellow secretaries 
and from pastors of different denominations, however, are 
responsible for its presentation in this form at this time. 
While additional results might be interesting, enough is 
probably here presented for purposes of illustration. 

I wish to acknowledge my indebtedness to Professor 
Coe, of Northwestern University, for most helpful sugges- 
tions, and to my associates in the Central Department, 
George W. Ehler, Walter M. Wood and Frederick White, 
for their active and efficient co-operation. 

James F. Oates. 
April, ipoi. 



CONTENTS. 



Chapter I. The Problem Stated Page 7 

Failure due to lack of knowledge. What we know about 
voting men. What we ought to know. How to secure this 
information. 

Chapter II. A Statistical Background Page 19 

The field of the Association in the United States, in Illinois, 
in Chicago. Classification of young men according to age, 
nativity, and occupation. 

Chapter III. Membership Classification Page 33 

Central Department members classified as to age, nationality, 
occupation, church affiliation, and Association privileges used. 

Chapter IV. Church Investigation Page 45 

Proportion of males to females in the church. Age divisions 
of males. Census of attendance at church services, prayer- 
meetings, young people's societies and Sunday-schools. 

Chapter V. A Group Study Page 61 

The question list. The difference between Christian and 
non-Christian men with reference to beliefs and practices. 
Summary and conclusion. 

Appendix .Page 75 

Improved system for tabulating membership information. 



The Religious Condition of Young Men. 

A STUDY. 

CHAPTER I. 

THE PROBLEM STATED. 

THERE has been a growing conviction for several years 
that in association work we were spending too much 
time on methods without being sufficiently ac- 
quainted with principles. Year after year finds the same 
problems staring us in the face and still crying for solution. 
At each succeeding conference we look them squarely in the 
face, as did the eminent Scotch divine with reference to 
scriptural difficulties, and then pass on. Particularly is this 
so in the case of problems in our religious work. From all 
sides come reports of dissatisfaction with meager results 
and appeals for methods of work that will change the situation 
so that what is pronounced the crowning feature of our work 
may be such in fact, as well as in name. Affairs have come to 
such a pass that the conclusion is well-nigh unanimous that 
at least one of the reasons why our problems continue to lack 
solution and our religious work especially continues to 
furnish meager results, is that we do not understand 
the material with which we have to deal. As gen- 
eral secretaries of the Young Men's Christian Asso- 
ciation, supposed to be leaders of young men, their 
guides and examples, and of help in their symmetrical 
development, we do not know young men. We are not 
acquainted with their growth and development, their 
temptations and difficulties. We do not appreciate their 
divisions into different ages, nationalities, occupations and 
religions. We do not appreciate that each one represents 
a definite problem in himself; that each is the product of 



8 The Religious Condition of Young Men. 

certain forces of heredity and environment ; that these are the 
factors that have made him largely what he is today; that 
these are the things that have largely determined his thoughts, 
his feelings, his desires, his ambitions, his attitude concerning 
life and its multiform activities and problems. In short, the 
difficulty is that we have not approached the study of young 
men in a scientific way, with a method at once feasible and 
adequate to secure data, without which it is impossible to 
make legitimate and reliable conclusions. 

About two years ago, a group of Chicago secretaries, real- 
izing the above, organized a club for the twofold purpose of 
becoming acquainted with sociological theory, and at the 
same time making a practical study of young men from the 
standpoint of the Young Men's Christian Association. The 
chief unifying factor in the club was the desire to know young 
men and the unanimous feeling that we must have that 
knowledge as association men before we could intelligently 
serve them. It was impossible to plan a course of reading, 
study or investigation very far ahead. We knew so little of 
the difficulties that would be encountered that we were 
obliged to go step by step, profiting by our mistakes, and 
changing our course as light was given. On the advice of a 
university professor of sociology we first read Spencer's 
The Study of Sociology. Subsequent experience 
brought out the wisdom of reading this book at the very be- 
ginning. The chief contribution it made was the emphasis 
placed on the absolute necessity of proceeding in the study 
with a scientific spirit, free from every bias, willing to know 
all the facts and accept the conclusions which the facts them- 
selves should teach. Our next step was to read the text of 
Small and Vincent, which gave a brief treatment of the nat- 
ural history of a society, and which dwelt at length on the 
analysis and description of society in biological terms. Ac- 
companying this we read the book Social Elements, by 
Professor Henderson, of the University of Chicago — somewhat 
different in style and treatment, but similar in views. By 
this time, in connection with much collateral reading, the 



The Problem Stated. 9 

club became conversant with the present status of sociology, 
and took up the text on the Principles of Sociology, by 
Professor Giddings, of Columbia University. In the mean- 
time, side by side with the theoretical work, the club pursued 
its practical study and investigation, and would recommend 
this arrangement as the ideal combination. It is impossible 
to state the larger outlook which the theoretical study has 
given the club as workers in the Young Men 's Christian Asso- 
ciation and the light this study has thrown on the place 
the association should occupy among social forces; or, on the 
other hand, the illumination which the practical study has 
given the theoretical work. 

To find out the actual religious condition of }^oung men, 
and especially the young men of Chicago, who constitute the 
field of the Chicago association, was the problem of the club. 
The results, in so far as they have been obtained, and the 
methods by which they have been obtained constitute the sub- 
ject-matter of the present study. 



Before proceeding with a description of the efforts of the 
club, two things should be considered : First, what is already 
known about the religious condition of young men; and 
Second, what we ought to know before we can say we are 
acquainted with their religious condition. 

It has been interesting to study the facts and arguments in 
use by ourselves in the past, showing the need of and justifica- 
tion for the work of the Young Men's Christian Association. 
On page 14 of the Association Hand -Book, there 
are just thirteen lines devoted to facts and figures proving the 
demand for such an organization. These lines read as fol- 
lows : 

11 There are fully 13,000,000 young men in the United 
States and Canada. Of this number it is estimated that not 
more than 1,000,000 are members of evangelical churches. 
There is no doubt that at least 7,000,000 of them habitually 
stay away from all churches. Not more than one-third of 
the boys remain in the Sunday-schools after they reach the 



10 The Religious Condition of Young Men. 

age of fifteen. It is safe to say that 95 per cent of the young 
men do little or nothing in an aggressive way to promote the 
organized Christian work of the churches. 

"About nine-tenths of the entire church membership were 
converted before the age of twenty-one. W hen we consider that 
the majority of church members are women, we can form 
some estimate of the exceedingly small number of men who 
accept Christ after passing through this age. ' ' 

As to the general indefiniteness of the information the 
statements themselves testify. In seeking additional in- 
formation on this point it has been difficult to secure any- 
thing more definite. 

There has been a general impression that the church and 
Sunday-school do not retain young men in any great num- 
bers after the age of sixteen. Such facts as the following are 
samples of the information we have had on this subject : The 
Congregational Year Book of 1896 shows twenty-five churches 
in Illinois with less than ten men each; one church with 
twelve women and no men ; one with nine women and one 
man. (None of the circumstances in connection with these 
churches are given.) A pastor from Sheffield, Illinois, writes : 
"We are small — only 1200 people all told, and 800 of them 
attend no church whatever. Our young men are reckless and 
godless. They profane the Sabbath with ball games, bathing 
and card parties. They have no regard for Christianity, and 
we cannot get hold of them by ordinary means." (While 
the above statement is interesting and reveals a striking 
condition, there is nothing definite about the number of 
young men in the church and out of the church.) Hudson, 
Illinois, population 276. This town contains a few young men 
of whom two are Christians. The pastor of the Methodist 
Church at Rock City, Illinois, states that he has but one young 
man in his church there. At Warsaw, the pastor writes: 
" There is scarcely a male member in the churches. The city 
is nearly all German, and there is very little religion." It is 
possible to multiply such testimony indefinitely. It should 
be stated that such testimony is of value, but its general 



The Problem Stated. 11 

character is unmistakable. It is insufficient as a basis of 
generalization. The fact that we are compelled to show such 
isolated incidents and fragmentary testimony as an argument 
for our work would emphasize, if nothing else, the imperative 
need that a scientific study be made of the religious condition 
of young men in order that our magnificent organization may 
rest on facts and not on theory. 

Another sort of information has been gathered and used 
in much the same way. Local statistics have been secured in 
different places on such items as the number of saloons and the 
number of young men entering on certain days or certain 
evenings; the number of theaters and the attendance of 
young men on certain occasions. A comparative study has 
been made of such theater attendance with the attendance of 
young men at certain churches and statistics of billiard halls 
and gambling places and houses of ill-repute have also been 
obtained. All these as they have been gathered have shed 
light on the temptations of young men and the extent to 
which these temptations appeal to them. One of the most 
striking, and at the same time one of the most interesting r 
studies of this sort revealed the following facts about Chicago : 
*"There are 6320 legalized saloons; 31,600 men constitute the 
working force of these saloons. The estimated daily receipts 
amount to $316,000. 

" On Sunday evening, February 26, 1899, a careful count was 
made of the men in a Madison street saloon at 7 o'clock. The 
number was 524, and during the next two hours 480 more men 
entered. At one of the billiard tables young men six deep on 
all sides were engaged in open gambling. Private stairways 
connect this saloon with the vilest theater in the city. 

1 ' There are 3000 billiard and pool-rooms in the city, generally 
adjacent to or part of a saloon. 

There are thirty-one theaters widely varying in character 
and attractiveness. The attendance of men from about 
fifteen to forty-five years of age at seventeen of these theaters 
on Sunday evening, February 26th was 17,160. This attend- 
ance in detail shows that the larger audiences of men were 

* Paper on "Social Forces in Action" by L. Wilbur Messer, Chicago, 1S00. 



12 The Religious Condition of Young Men. 

found in the cheapest and most degrading places. The 
Academy of Music leads the list with 2100 men present. The 
Haymarket with 1594; the Chicago Opera House, 1250; the 
Dearborn, 1509; the Alhambra, 1200; Hopkins', 1151; Sam 
T. Jack's, 880. 

"Continuing the enumeration of destructive forces, we must 
add the houses of ill-repute, with their unfortunate but dis- 
reputable inmates. An accurate canvass of the Nineteenth 
ward, -bounded by Van Buren, Halsted, Twelfth streets and 
the Chicago river, gives 312 such houses, with 1708 inmates. 
No reliable estimate of the number in the entire city can be 
given. It is believed that there are at least 1000 men in the 
city who make it their business to allure men to these resorts. 
In the central district of the city it is said that there are 600 
men, known as ' degenerates, J who ply their business on the 
streets. There are probably not less than 50,000 men alone 
directly engaged in public places of resort commonly held to be 
demoralizing and criminal in tendency. It is thus seen that 
of the total male population of 945,868 (according to census of 
1890) one out of every 'nineteen is engaged in an occupation 
which tends to ruin young manhood." 

It is not the purpose of this paper to pronounce such facts 
valueless. On the other hand, they are extremely valuable. 
They reveal a condition that is shocking in the extreme. They 
show the need of and plead eloquently for such an organization 
as our own. At the same time they are open to criticism from 
another standpoint. Gather all the statistics we will con- 
cerning saloons, theaters and houses of ill-fame, we are but 
dealing with symptoms. We are not making a study of 
young men themselves and their condition. Such informa- 
tion is good as far as it goes. At best it is but superficial. No 
amount of study of this information will disclose such facts as 
the following: who these young men are, their occupa- 
tions, early training and influence, whether they live at 
home or not, their heredity, environment and a host of 
other things we must inquire about in order to understand the 
disease, of which the things we see on the surface are but the 



The Problem States/. 13 

symptoms. Another illustration may be in order. One 
might gather any amount of statistics as to the number of 
young men who ride bicycles on Sunday. The figures would 
be of little value unless we knew more about the young men. 
This then is the objection to all this class of information and 
illustration which we have quoted at length to show the kind 
of material we have been obliged to use as the argument and 
justification for our organization. 

The second thing which Ave stated should receive our con- 
sideration before giving the description of the work of the club,, 
is a statement of the kind and amount of information we 
ought to possess before we can become acquainted with the 
religious condition of young men. AYe have attempted to show 
that what we did know for certain is limited in the extreme. 
Before we can generalize as to the religious condition of young 
men, it is clear that we ought to have fresh and extensive data 
on such questions as the following: 

1. The proportion of young men of the various com- 
munities who are members of evangelical churches. 

2. The proportion of young men attending church serv- 
ices. 

3. The hold that the Sunday-school has upon young men. 

4. Is the proportion of young men who are becoming Chris- 
tians increasing or decreasing year by year? 

5. The proportion of young men touched by the association 
in the different communities. 

6. Any special adaptation of the work of the churches to 
influence young men. 

7. Other agencies that are helping to build up young 
men. 

8. The principal temptations of young men. 

9. The chief perils, agencies, forces and influences which 
are hurting young men. 

10. Where and how do young men spend their leisure 
time? 

11. What books are young men reading chiefly? 



14 



The Religious Condition of Young Men. 



It is apparent that if statistics could be obtained on some 
of these points they would throw direct light on the subject. 
Information concerning other of the points would only serve 
indirectly to shed this light. As a matter of fact, statistics 
for the country, or the states, or the cities, are not obtainable 
with reference to these points. Even the church statistics 
give only the gross membership, making no distinction be- 
tween males and females, and furnishing no information 
whatever respecting classification according to ages. 

In view of this condition of affairs, the question naturally 
arose, How can this information be secured? Three diffi- 
culties at once suggest themselves : First, if the work is un- 
dertaken and carried through in a given locality, the objec- 
tion might be made that the results are of value only as they 
reflect local conditions. Even if similar studies were made 
in different places, it might also be urged that the portion 
covered would be such a small percentage of the territory 
reckoned as the field of the association that to draw conclusions 
for the whole country from such a comparatively small 
amount of data would not be permissible. The second diffi- 
culty would be the lack of a scientific method of procedure. 
The problem of gathering statistics and information and the 
legitimate use of the same, is no mean one. The third diffi- 
culty would still remain even if the first two were removed, 
viz. : The inability of local secretaries and directors, upon 
whom would necessarily devolve the labor of making the local 
study, to devote the amount of time required. Answering 
these objections and difficulties in their inverse order, it can 
be said with reference to the last point, that what must be 
done can be done. Time can be taken and must be taken to 
do the necessary thing, and if association work is in that 
stage where further progress cannot be made until we know 
young men, the conclusion is inevitable that we must take up 
this task however formidable. With reference to the 
second objection, that a scientific method of procedure is 
lacking: certain methods will be set forth later, and re- 
sults will be furnished which will illustrate the methods and 



The Problem Stated. 15 

testify as to their value. Taking up the first point, that it 
is impossible to secure extensive enough information to per- 
mit of wide generalization, there is much that can be said. 
In the first place, the value of what seems to be a limited 
amount of data should not be ignored. The study of any 
particular question in a local field will frequently reveal 
striking agreements and marked tendencies. This will stimu- 
late a similar inquiry in another field for the purpose of gather- 
ing similar information for purposes of comparative study. 
The second study and subsequent studies in the same line 
will furnish results that will correct and corroborate the re- 
sults of the initial study. While at no time is it legitimate 
to make deductions wider than the facts will permit, and the 
conclusions will hold only in those localities where the several 
studies are made or which have the same conditions, never- 
theless there are methods of analysis and means of cross- 
checking by which deductions can be made from relatively 
few data which will hold for a much wider area than that 
in which the original information was secured. For example : 
it is only necessary to call attention to what has been accom- 
plished by the empirical method in certain psychological 
studies. Two books which have recently been published will 
illustrate the great possibilities in the proper use of facts 
properly secured. The first of the volumes is The Psy- 
chology of Religion, by Professor Starbuck of the Stanford 
University; the second, The Spiritual Life, by Professor 
Coe, of Northwestern University. Both of these volumes are 
of unquestioned scientific A^alue, are written in popular 
st} T le, and should be read and studied by every person who is 
responsible for the religious interests of others. 

It is safe to say that no more valuable contributions to 
religious work have been made than the results of these and 
kindred studies. The conclusions in Starbuck 7 s chapters on 
conversion, which stand the test of scientific criticism, ought 
to be eagerly seized by all religious workers. Some of the 
facts concerning young men are exactly what the Young 
Men's Christian Association has been waiting for many years, 



16 The Religious Condition of Young Men. 

and ought to be incorporated in its religious work without de- 
lay. A few only of the facts demonstrated and practically 
settled by Professor Starbuck in his chapters on conversion 
are here given: 

First, Conversion is an adolescent phenomenon. In the 
case of males it occurs most frequently at the age of 16, and 
immediately before and after this year. If conversion has 
not occurred before 20, the chances are very small that it will 
ever be experienced. This conclusion is supported by the 
studies of others, including Professor Coe and Dr. Gulick. 
We reproduce a table found on page 45 of Professor Coe's 
book, showing the age of conversion, or decisive awakening, 
of 1784 different men. 

"AGE OF CONVERSION OR DECISIVE AWAKENING OF MEN. 

Average 
No. Cases. Age. 

Graduates Drew Seminary 776 16.4 

Y. M. C. A. Officers 526 16.5 

Starbuck's Conversions 51 15.7 

Starbuck's Spontaneous Awakenings. ... 75 16.3 

Eock River M. E. Conference 272 16.4 

Coe's Decisive Awakenings 84 15.4 

Total 1784 16.4 

Professor Starbuck discusses at length the average age of 
males and females at conversion, and also the difference be- 
tween revival and non-revival cases in this respect. He 
also shows and discusses the relation of the age of conversion 
to the accession to puberty and the period of greatest 
physical and mental development. 

Second, In his chapter on " Motives Leading to Conversion," 
he shows the percentage of males of a given number exam- 
ined whose conversion was brought about by each of the fol- 
lowing motives and forces : 

1. Fear of death, or hell. 

2. Other self -regarding motives. 

*This list has been subsequently increased to include 4000 cases, with practically 
no variation in the average age. 



The Problem Stated. 17 

3. Altruistic motives. 

4. Following out a moral ideal. 

5. Remorse or conviction for sin, etc. 

6. Response to teaching. 

7. Example, imitation, etc. 

8. Social pressure, urging, etc. 

While we are not able to present a chart of this table, it is 
interesting to note that the largest percentage of males is im- 
pelled to conversion by the motive of following out a moral 
ideal. Almost as great a number are moved by remorse and 
conviction for sin. The next, by social pressure, urging, etc. 
This whole chapter is in fact an excellent argument in favor 
of personal work. 

Third, In the chapter on "Experiences Preceding Con- 
version," out of a list of seventeen experiences such as sense 
of sin, feeling of estrangement from God, the desire for a 
better life, etc., the following is full of interest: 

Thirty-three per cent of the males experience a sense of 
sin, while 60 per cent experience a feeling of depression 
and sadness. The difference between males and females in 
this regard, and the difference between revival and non- 
revival methods, are clearly brought out. 

Fourth, Chapter IV deals with the mental and bodily 
affections immediately accompanying conversion. Much of 
this chapter is devoted to a comparison of sexes in 
emotional experience. Professor Coe 's book is quoted freely in 
connection with a discussion of the temperamental differences 
between men and women. It is in a study of temperament 
that Professor Coe has probably made his greatest contribution 
to the Psychology of Religion. The principal difference ap- 
pears to be, that with men the intellect is more prominent, 
hence there are more theoretical doubts; while with women 
sensibility is more prominent, hence there are more doubts of 
personal status. Man's emotion is fixed on definite objects 
and at definite periods, hence more turbulence. Woman's 
emotion is more constant, more diffused, more gentle ; men are 
less suggestible, resist more, have more intense struggle and 



18 The Religious Condition of Young Men. 

less fulfilment of expectation, attain more in solitude ; women 
are more suggestible, hence yield more readily to ordinary 
influences, attain less in solitude, have less intense struggle and 
more fulfilment of expectation. 

Succeeding chapters are devoted to a treatment of such 
subjects as: 

(a) In what Conversion Consists. 

(b) Conscious and Sub-Conscious Elements in Conversion. 

(c) Feeling following Conversion. 

(d) The Character of the New Life. 

(e) Conversion as a Normal Human Experience. 
(/) Abnormal Aspects of Conversion. 

It would transcend the limits of this occasion to suggest 
further, even the titles of the subject-matter of this volume. 
If this reference to it will result in new readers of the book 
a principal aim will be accomplished. 

It is possible to mention here only the chapter heads of Pro- 
fessor Coe's valuable and timely book on the "Spiritual Life. " 
It consists of five studies, as follows: 

(1) A Study of Religious Awakening. 

(2) A Study of Some Adolescent Difficulties. 

(3) A Study of Religious Dynamics. 

(4) A Study of Divine Healing. 

(5) A Study of Spirituality. 

Professor Coe corroborates and emphasizes the results of 
Professor Starbuck 's study, and also the work of Dr. Gulick on 
"Sex and Religion." In addition, he contributes much that 
is new and valuable directly on the line of our discussion. 
In another place in this paper we make reference to his expla- 
nation of the disproportion of males to females in the church 
membership and in attendance at the church services. 



CHAPTER II. 

A STATISTICAL BACKGROUND. 

RECOGNIZING the lack of definite character of our pre- 
vious knowledge concerning young men, appreciating 
the value of the methods by which the contributions of 
Starbuck, Coe, and others were made, and realizing the many 
things we must still learn about young men, the club under- 
took the task of devising methods whereby some of the in- 
formation might be secured. The results, so far as they have 
been obtained, will serve to illustrate the methods and bear 
testimony to their value. The following lines of investigation 
were inaugurated : 

(1) A comparative, statistical study of the association 
membership at large with the field of the association in the 
United States. 

(2) A similar study with reference to the State of Illinois. 

(3) A complete study of the field in Chicago compared with 
the membership of the Central Department. 

(4) A church investigation. 

(5) A detailed study of a group of seventy-two Central 
Department members. 

Proceeding now to the first study [page 20]: In the 
United States, according to the census of 1890, out of a total 
of 28,206,332 white males, 28 per cent were under 12 years 
of age, 9 per cent between 12 and 15 , 46 per cent between 16 
and 44, and 17 percent 45 years of age and over. In Illinois, 
according to the same census, out of a total of 1,941,376, 28 
per cent were under 12, 8 per cent between 12 and 15, 48 per 
cent between 16 and 44, and 16 per cent over 44. In the 
city of Chicago at the present time, according to the school 
census, out of a total of 559,900 white males, 26 per cent are 
under 12, 7 per cent between 12 and 15, 53 per cent between 
16 and 44, and 14 per cent 45 years of age and over. These 
statistics have been charted for the purpose of making a 
comparative study. 



MALES 

BY 

AGE GROUPS 



□ 



- II 12-15 16-44 45 - 



28% 9% 46%" 



17% 



ILLINOIS 
1, 941,376 




CHICAGO 
559,900 



26% 7% 



53% 



14% 



CENSUS OF 1890 



Prepared by G. W. Ehler. 



WHITE MALES 
AGE 12-15 



FOREIGN 
BORN 



□ 



NATIVE BORN 
FOREICN PARENTS 



NATIVE BORN 
NATIVE PARENTS 



UNITED STATES 
2,385,644 


■_ 


1 










11% 


24%o 




65% 




ILLINOIS 
157,749 


■Z 








11% 


39% 




50% 




CHICAGO 1890 
38,930 














25% 




58% 




17% 


CHICAGO 1898 
67,118 


■I 



19% 



61% 



20% 



Prepared by G. W. Ehler. 



22 The Religious Condition of Young Men. 

Classified according to nativity [page 21], we find in the 
United States in 1890, that of all the white males between 12 
and 15, 11 per cent were foreign born, 24 per cent of foreign 
parents*, and 65 per cent of native parents. In Illinois, in 
1890, 11 per cent were foreign born, 39 per cent of foreign 
parents and 50 per cent of native parents. In Chicago, in 
1890, 25 per cent of the same group were foreign born, 58 
per cent of foreign parents, and only 17 per cent of native 
parents. An interesting change is to be noted with reference 
to Chicago since 1890, for, in 1898, 19 per cent were foreign 
born, 61 per cent of foreign parents, and 20 per cent of native 
parents. The classification of Central Department Juniors 
according to nativity has not been secured. 

Turning now to the white males [page 23], between 16 and 44 
in the United States in 1890, 22 per cent were foreign born, 
20 per cent of foreign parents, and 58 per cent of native par- 
ents. In the State of Illinois at the same time, 29 per 
cent were foreign born, 25 per cent of foreign parents and 46 
per cent of native parents. In Chicago we notice a marked 
difference : 53 per cent were foreign born, 26 per cent of 
foreign parents, and only 21 per cent of native parents. 
This was in 1890. A somewhat different condition obtained 
in 1898 : 42 per cent were foreign born, 30 per cent of foreign 
parents, and 28 per cent native born. 

Classifying the membership of the Central Department 
according to the nativity of 844 members who took the 
physical examinations between January, 1899, and May, 1900, 
we find that 24 per cent were foreign born, 38 per cent of 
foreign parents, and 38 per cent of native parents. This is 
of value in showing the comparison by nativity of the asso- 
ciation membership with all the young men of the city who 
constitute the field of the association. 

We will now proceed to make a similar study of the white 
male workers ten years of age and over in the United States, 
in the State of Illinois, and in the city of Chicago, respectively. 
The accompanying chart [page 24] shows that in the United 

* " Of foreign parents " means all native born with one or both parents foreign born 



1 BC 

UNITED STATES 
12,940,759 

ILLINOIS 
914,522 

CHICACO, '90 
295,880 

CHICAGO, '98 
456,946 

CENTRAL DEPT. 
844 


WHITE MALES 
AGE 16-44 

REIGN 1 NATIVE BORN i| NATIVE BORN 

RN J FOREIGN PARENTS J NATIVE PARENTS 


8H 


22% 20% 58% 


|^^^^^^^^H 




29% 25% 46% 


IHIIi^Hi | 


53%; 26% 21% 


IHIIMi|. 


42% 30% 28% 




l 


24% 38% 38% 



Prepared by G. W. Ehler. 



WHITE MALE 
WORKERS 

10 YEARS AND OVER 



AGRICULTURE 



□ 



SKILLED LABOR ■ ■ PROFESSIONAL 



UNSKILLED LABOR MERCANTILE 



38% 



12% 2b% 20% 5% 



36% 



18% 23% 19% 4% 



CHICACO 
363,200 



12% 24% 

# UNCLASSIFIED 



38% 



a 



24% 2% 



Prepared by G. W. Ehler. 



A Statistical Background. 25 

States out of 16,603,147 such workers 38 per cent were 
agriculturists, 12 per cent unskilled laborers, 25 per cent 
skilled laborers, 20 per cent engaged in mercantile pursuits, 
and 5 per cent professional. In Illinois, out of 1,133,235,36 
per cent were agriculturists, 18 per cent unskilled laborers, 

23 per cent skilled laborers, 19 per cent mercantile, and 4 per 
cent professional. In Chicago, out of 363,200, 12 per cent 
were unclassified, 24 per cent unskilled laborers, 38 per cent 
skilled, 24 per cent mercantile, and 2 per cent professional. 

The next chart [page 26] is a similar classification by occu- 
pation of widte male workers ten years of age and over, ex- 
cepting the agriculturists. This exception is made because 
we are studying the field of the city and town associations. It 
is certainly unfair to include the agricultural males as the legit- 
imate field of the city and town associations. The chart we 
have just left furnishes no small amount of argument for a 
coming department of association work, viz. : count}- work. 

Out of 10,279,889 white male workers in the United States, 
20 per cent were unskilled laborers, 40 per cent skilled, 32 per 
cent mercantile, and 8 per cent professional. In Illinois, out 
of 725,999, 28 per cent were unskilled, 36 per cent skilled, 30 
per cent mercantile and 6 per cent professional. 

Reproducing the figures concerning Chicago from the last 
chart, we find no agriculturists and an unclassified per- 
centage of 12, 24 per cent unskilled, 38 per cent skilled, 

24 per cent mercantile and 2 per cent professional. It 
is now a matter of interest to compare Chicago with the Central 
Department membership classified by occupations. Out of 
3838 members so classified, 7 per cent come under the un- 
classified head, 2 per cent unskilled laborers, 10 per cent 
skilled, 66 per cent mercantile and 15 per cent professional. 
The extent to which the Central Department appeals to those 
engaged in mercantile and professional occupations is largely 
due to the location of the building in the downtown district. 
The showing for the entire Chicago association, with its nine 
departments, would doubtless be considerably different, as 
also in most other cities. 



WHITE MALE W0RKER5 
10 YEARS OF AGE AND OVER 
BY OCCUPATIONS 

(EXCEPTING AGRICULTURISTS) 



UNCLASSIFIED 



□ 



SKILLED LABOR ■ PROFESSIONAL 



UNSKILLED LABOR I MERCANTILE 



UNITED STATES 
10,279,889 



1 ■■ 





20% 



28% 



40% 



36% 



32% 8% 



30% 6% 



CHICAGO 
363,200 



C 



CENTRAL DEPT. 
3,838 



12% 24% 

2% 

1% 10% 



38? 



66% 



] 



24% 2% 



15% 



Prepared by G. W. Ehler. 



A Statistical Background. 27 

Our next chart [page 28] classifies the above males, again 
excepting agriculturists, by nativity. In the United States, 
33 per cent of this class were foreign born, 13 per cent of 
foreign parents and 54 percent of native parents. In Illinois, 
of this class 43 per cent were foreign born, 21 per cent of foreign 
parents, and 36 per cent of native parents. In Chicago, of 
this class 58 per cent were foreign born, 22 per cent of 
foreign parents and only 20 per cent of native parents. 

Taking the percentages of the Central Department members 
from a previous chart [page 23], we found 24 per cent 
foreign born, 38 per cent of foreign parents and 38 per 
cent of native parents. It is, therefore, obvious that the prob- 
lem before the Chicago association is somewhat different from 
the general problem in Illinois and the problem of the country. 
Such local facts are of tremendous significance, and the knowl- 
edge of them is important, because in view of such circum- 
stances methods must be worked out by which the religious 
condition of this great body of men can be improved. 

Classifying now the white male workers in Chicago with 
reference to occupations [page 29], we find that of the total 
number 363,200, 12 per cent were unclassified, 24 per cent 
were unskilled laborers, 38 per cent skilled, 24 percent mercan- 
tile, and 2 per cent professional. Classifying the native born 
of native parents, of whom there are 73,988, we find that 12 per 
cent were unclassified, 15 per cent were unskilled laborers, 28 
per cent skilled, 40 per cent mercantile, and 5 per cent 
professional. Out of 80,614 native born of foreign parents, 
14 per cent were unclassified, 19 per cent unskilled laborers, 
36 per cent skilled, 28 per cent mercantile, and 3 per cent pro- 
fessional. Uniting these last two groups into a single group of 
native born, we find 13 per cent unclassified, 17 per cent 
unskilled, 32 per cent skilled, 34 per cent mercantile and 4 
per cent professional. Coming to the foreign born, of whom 
there are 208,598 in Chicago, we notice 11 per cent unclassi- 
fied, 30 per cent unskilled, 41 per cent skilled, 17 per cent 
mercantile and 1 per cent professional. 



WHITE MALE 
WORKERS 

EXCEPT AGRICULTURISTS 
BY NATIVITIES 



FOREIGN 



□ 



NATIVE BORN 
FOREICN PARENTS 



NATIVE BORN 
NATIVE PARENTS 



UNITED STATES | 
10,279,889 



ILLINOIS 
725,999 



CHICAGO 
363,200 



1111131 




I 


33% 


13% 




54 % 


INfHHNi 




43% 




21% 


36% 


1 





58% 



22^ 20% 



Prepared by G. W. Ehler. 



WHITE MALE 

WORKERS 

CHICAGO 



UNCLASSIFIED 



□ 



SKILLED LABOR ■ PROFESSIONAL 



UNSKILLED LABOR 



UNSKILLED LABOR MERCANTILE 



ALL 

383,200 



NATIVE BORN 

NATIVE PAR. 

73,988 



NATIVE BORN 

FOREIGN PAR. | 

80,614 



NATIVE BORN 
154,602 



FOREIGN BORN | 
208,598 



I 


| 


12% 


24^ 38% 


24% 2% 


[_ 








HI 


12% 


1 5% 28% 


40% b% 






^H 


14% 19% 36% 


28% 3% 


| 


1 


13% 17% 32% 


34% A% 


■ 




| 



11% 30% 



41% 



17% 1% 



Prepared by G. W. Ehler. 



30 The Religious Condition of Young Men. 

We will now classify as to nativity [page 31] the members 
of the group of white male workers in Chicago, engaged in 
different occupations. 

As we found from a previous chart, 58 per cent of 
a total of 363,200 were foreign born, 22 per cent of foreign 
parents and 20 per cent native born. We now find that of 
8348 professional men 34 per cent were foreign born, 21 per 
cent of foreign parents and 45 per cent native born. Of 
87,898 mercantile, 40 per cent were foreign born, 26 per cent 
of foreign parents, and 34 per cent native born. Of 135,987 
skilled laborers 63 per cent were foreign born, 22 per cent of 
foreign parents and 15 per cent native born. Of 88,459 un- 
skilled laborers 70 per cent were foreign born, 17 per cent of 
foreign parents and 13 per cent native born. Of 42,508 un- 
classified laborers, 51 per cent were foreign born, 27 per cent 
of foreign parents and 22 per cent native born. 

Let us now compare [page 32] the association membership at 
large with the number of white males between 16 and 44 years 
of age. According to the Year Book of 1900, in 500 cities and 
towns of the United States where we have associations,there is 
a total of 6,119,646 males between the ages of 16 and 
44. In these 500 associations there is a membership 
of 169,299, or 3 per cent of the total. In forty-eight towns 
of Illinois there are 632,375 males between 16 and 44. 
The number of members of the association in these 
towns is 14,076 or 2 per cent of the total. In Chicago, as 
previously shown, there are 456,946 males between 16 
and 44, and in the four Chicago city departments a total 
membership of 4721, or a proportion of 1 per cent of the 
total. 



WHITE MALE 
WORKERS 

CHICAGO 

1 FOREIGN "] NATIVE BORN 1 NATIVE BORN 
| BORN J FOREIGN PARENTS J NATIVE PARENTS 




ALL ■■■■■■■1 




58% 22% 20% 




PROFESSIONAL ■ 




34% 21% 45% 




MERCANTILE • 1 

■Hjij^HHHHHi 






40% 26% 34% 




SKILLED __^g|||a^jjjmg£m| 






63% 22% 15% 




UNSKILLED Im^j^^gg^j^B^O^jAj^^^^ 




70% 17% 13% 




UNCLASSIFIED 1 




51% 27% 22% 





Prepared by G. W. Ehler. 



WHITE MALES 

AGES 16-44 

AND ASSOCIATION MEMBERS 

CITY AND TOWN SENIORS 

x 8x =^ 

500 AMERICAN CITIES AND TOWNS 

MALES -16 -44, 6,119,646 MEMBERS 169,299 



] 



~ '""" 97% 3% 

48 ILLINOIS CITIES AND TOWNS 

MALES -16 -44, 632,375 MEMBERS 14,076 



1 



98% 2% 

4 CHICAGO DEPARTMENTS 

MALES -16 -44, 456,946 MEMBERS 4,721 



99% 1% 



Prepared by G. W. Ehler. 



CHAPTER III. 

MEMBERSHIP CLASSIFICATION. 

LET us now turn our attention to the classification of the 
Central Department membership.* It is a very simple 
matter to secure from the application blanks certain 
facts about the members; as, for example, age, occupation 
and nationality. When, however, it is desired to make a 
comparative study of one group with another with reference 
to any point, the problem becomes more complex. In order 
to tabulate the facts concerning each individual, it is necessary 
to have a system for bringing like facts together without losing 
the identity of the individual. A comprehensive blank was 
devised whereby the following information respecting each 
member could be indicated: age, kind of membership — regu- 
lar or special, original or renewal — nationality, occupation, 
church attendance, preference, and membership and privileges 
for the sake of which the individual joined the asso- 
ciation. 

When the work of tabulation was completed and 
all the totals brought down, practically everything of 
interest concerning the membership either presented itself or 
could be readily ascertained. Some of the interesting data 
with reference to 3838 members of the Central Department 
thus classified are here presented, and some of the additional 
studies, which under this plan can be prosecuted at will, are 
also indicated. 

First, total membership by ages [page 35]: 



*A description is given in the appendix of an improved system for tabulating mem- 
bership information. It is an outgrowth of the one used in the present study and an 
illustration of the practical value of the study. 



34 The Religious Condition of Young Men. 

Age. Number. 

16 228 

17 214 

18 208 

19 237 

20 247 

21 254 

22 271 

23 227 

24 212 

25-29 679 

30-34 421 

35-39 232 

40 and over 255 

Unclassified 153 

Total 3838 

The average age is 25 years and 3 months. The highest 
number is at age 22. 

Second. Classification by occupation [page 36]: this in- 
formation was used in the preceding statistical study in the 
percentage form. Of 3838 members, 2517 are mercantile, 
402 skilled laborers, 557 professional, 71 unskilled laborers, 
and 291 unclassified. In this chart mercantile includes clerks 
and managers. Professional includes professional men and 
students. 

Third. Classification according to nationality: this in- 
formation is not specially valuable in regard to the Central 
Department, for there are no statistics with regard to the 
native born of foreign parents, the majority of such indica- 
ting their nationality as Americans. According to the mem- 
bership applications 77 per cent were American, 20 per cent 
foreign born, and 3 per cent miscellaneous. Among the for- 
eign born are Englishmen, Scotchmen, Irishmen, Canadians, 
Germans and Scandinavians. 



NUMBER OF 
ASSOCIATION MEMBERS 

(JAN. i, 1899 TO MAY 1, 1900) 

BY AGES 

100 200 300 


16 YEARS 

17 - 

18 - 

19 - 

20 ■ 

21 - 

22 - 

23 - 

24 - 
25 - 29 - 
30 - 34 - 
35 - 39 - 

40&OVER 

UNCLASS. 

TOTAL 
















228 




















It 


4 


















rzoi 


5 


















\237 




















V' 


•7 


















V 


?54 


















A271 


















S22.I 
















fav. 
















DYea 


^ i 

rs 679 












/£x 


ears 4-21 












/b Years 232 














M0 Years 255 | 


















1 


=>3 
























38 


38 









Prepared by W. M. Wood . 



OCCUPATIONS 

OF ASSOCIATION 

MEMBERS 



A03. 




Prepared by W. M. Wood. 



Members! lip Classification. 37 

Fourth. The classification by denominations, showing 
churches attended by members, churches stated as preferred, 
and church membership: two thousand six hundred and 
two, or 67 per cent of the whole, indicated a church attend- 
ance; 2461, or 63 per cent indicated a church preference, while 
only 1700, or 44 per cent, claim membership in churches. 
The denominational differences may be seen on chart [page 
38] with reference to the items of attendance, preference and 
membership. Out of numerous most interesting things 
which might be mentioned, attention is called to but two 
striking facts, as follows: the church having the largest 
number of members in the Central Department is the Catholic ; 
and second, 139 Hebrews belong to the Central Department. 

The next chart [page 39] shows (A) that 57 per cent of the 
total membership attend evangelical churches, 10 per cent 
non-evangelical churches, while 32 per cent do not attend any 
church. 

It also shows (B) that 52 per cent prefer evangelical de- 
nominations, 11 per cent prefer non-evangelical denomina- 
tions, and 36 per cent express no denominational preference. 

It also shows (C) that only 33 per cent are members of evan- 
gelical churches, 10 per cent of non-evangelical churches, 
while 55 per cent are not church members. 

We have not charted the percentage of church mem- 
bership, preference and attendance of the entire Central 
Department membership at different ages. The most inter- 
esting thing thus revealed would be that at 16 we see the 
highest percentage of church attendance, which suffers a 
gradual decrease as the members advance in age, reaching 
its lowest point among the class between 35 and 40 years of 
age. 

The chart [page 40] shows the relative drawing power of 
the different association privileges. We find that 42 per cent 
of the total membership joined for the privileges of the Phys- 
ical Department, 19 per cent for the Educational Depart- 
ment, 14 per cent for the general privileges, 1.3 per cent for 
the social privileges, 21 per cent unstated, while those who 



CHURCH 

ATTENDANCE (A), PREFERENCE (B;, 
AND MEMBERSHIP (C), OF 

ASSOCIATION MEMBERS 

BY DENOMINATIONS 

\ A) OX \% 2% 3% A% b% Q% 7% Q% 9% \§% \\% 


METHODIST 

PRESBYTERIAN 

CONGREGATIONAL 

EPISCOPALIAN 

BAPTIST 

CATHOLIC 

LUTHERAN 

MISC. EVANGELICAL 

HEBREW 

CHRISTIAN 

UNIVERSALIST 

UNITARIAN 

MISC. NON- EVAN. 

(B) 

METHODIST 

PRESBYTERIAN 

CONGREGATIONAL 

EPISCOPALIAN 

BAPTIST 

CATHOLIC 

LUTHERAN 

MISC. EVANGELICAL 

HEBREW 

CHRISTIAN 

UNIVERSALIST 

UNITARIAN 

MISC. NON-EVAN. 

(C) 

METHODIST 

PRESBYTERIAN 

CONGREGATIONAL 

EPISCOPALIAN 

BAPTIST 

CATHOLIC 

LUTHERAN 

MISC. EVANGELICAL 

HEBREW 

CHRISTIAN 

UNIVERSALIST 

un:tarian 

misc. non - evan. 




































































_ 










^ m 


































































































































™ 






























































^^ m 















Prepared by W. M. Wood. 



EVANGELICAL AND 

NON- EVANGELICAL CHURCH 

ATTENDANCE (A), PREFERENCE (B) 

AND MEMBERSHIP (C), OF 

ASSOCIATION MEMBERS 




Prepared by W. M. Wood. 



SPECIAL PRIVILEGES 

FOR WHICH MEMBERS 
JOINED THE 

ASSOCIATION 



SOCIAL DEPARTMENT 1.3%> 



25% RELIGIOUS DEPARTMENT 




Prepared by W. M. Wood 



Membership Classification. 41 

stated that they joined for the religious privileges of the 
association amount to 1/4 of 1 per cent only. 

A hasty conclusion with reference to the small number 
who say they join for religious privileges might lead some to 
misjudge the association as a religious institution. This 
last chart is, in reality, an unanswerable argument for the 
use of the so-called secular agencies, all of which, it is be- 
lieved, contribute to the all-around development of young 
men. 

The next chart [page 42] is a somewhat intricate 
one, but presenting a most interesting study, which indicates 
the proportion of members engaged in different occupations 
at different ages. For instance : at 16 years of age, 54 per cent 
of the entire membership are clerks. This proportion in- 
creases rapidly until 19 years of age, when 78 per cent of the 
entire membership are engaged in clerical occupations. It 
then maintains a uniform proportion up to 24 years of age, 
and falls rapidly after that. The other occupations are not very 
well represented during the earlier years, and are rather uni- 
form until we reach the age of 25, when we find that man- 
agers increase in rapid proportion, the professional men are 
on the increase, while the skilled laborers fall away, and the 
students and unskilled laborers are practically unrepre- 
sented. 

The chart [page 43] has been prepared to show the rel- 
ative number of new and old members in the membership at 
each age for 1899. Beginning at 16 we find 149 new members 
to 18 old. The difference grows gradually less with one 
exception until about the age of 22, when we find for the 
first time an excess of renewals to new members, there be- 
ing 109 renewals to 98 originals. The chart shows 
that after 23, when they are about the same, the re- 
newals are constantly greater in number than the originals at 
each successive year. According to this chart, therefore, 
over one-half of the members beyond 23 years of age are old 
members, while it is the young men from 16 to 19 who do not 



DIFFERENT OCCUPATIONS 

AT DIFFERENT AGES 

ASSOCIATION MEMBERS 

IKIIIFn 1 ARflRFRR PnnFF^IflNAI MTN rwHAMAPFIl*! 


UNSKILLED LABORERS STUDENTS CLERKS 

% 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 


16 YEARS 

17 - 

18 - 

19 - 

20 - 

21 - 
22- 
23 - 
24- 

25 - 29 - 

30 - 34 - 

35 - 39 - 

40 & OVER 
























II* 






+* 




\ 












/ 










\ 






















% 






\l. ■ 

II' ■ 
i t 












y 


s 






H * 




















:][■ 




















■1 




















:\\ 












/ 








* * 

• # 










y* 










« 






_...• 


•"" 












i; 




/ 
















* 1 ♦ 


A 


\ 











































Prepared by W. M. Wood. 



NUMBER OF MEMBERS 

BY AGES 

YEAR 1899 



■RENEWALS 



- ORIGINALS 



— TOTALS 



20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200 



T 



^ 



I / 


-T- 




1 ^v^ 






***** s 


\i 




y 


/' 




X ■ 


/ 



> 






Prepared by W. M. Wood. 



44 The Religious Condition of Young Men. 

renew their tickets. These results are suggestive in the ex- 
treme. 

These are all the studies that have been made thus far. 
Information is in such shape that the following comparative 
studies can easily be made and will be made in the near 
future : 

(1) Study of privileges used by members of different 
ages. 

(2) Study of denominations by ages. 

(3) Study of nationalities by ages. 

(4) A comparative study of originals and renewals with 
reference to privileges used. 

(5) A comparative study of originals and renewals with 
reference to church membership. 

(6) A comparative study of denominations and privileges 
used. 

(7) A comparative study of nationalities and privileges 
used. 

(8) A comparative study of occupations and privileges 
used. 

(9) A comparative study of denominations and occupa- 
tions. 

We have not taken time to indicate the value of each of 
these successive studies. It must certainly be apparent that 
it is possible to become thoroughly acquainted with the 
membership in this way, and that such acquaintance ought 
to help in the use of those methods of work which will 
reach the young men of the community. It may be said 
in passing, that while the work of making this study for 
3838 members was not small, in a medium sized member- 
ship it would be comparatively easy. 



CHAPTER IV. 

CHURCH INVESTIGATION. 

^ HE next direction in which the club extended its inves- 
tigations was in connection with the churches. A 
church inquiry blank was prepared for the purpose of 
securing from individual churches as much of the following 
information as possible : 

First. The number of members living : 

(a) Within a mile. 

(b) Farther than a mile. 

Second. The proportion of male to female members at 
the present time, five years ago, and ten years ago. 

Third. The proportion of males to females in yearly 
accessions by letter and on confession since 1890. 

Fourth . The classification of male members as to occupa- 
tion as follows: professional, mercantile, skilled laborers, 
unskilled laborers, unclassified. 

Fifth. The proportion of men to women holding office 
in young people's society. 

Sixth. The proportion of men to women leading young 
people 's meetings during preceding quarter. 

Seventh. The proportion of men to women teachers in 
Sunday-school. 

Eighth . Number of members in special clubs, such as Boys ' 
Brigade, Young Men's League, Men's Club, St. Andrew's 
Brotherhood, etc. 

The purpose of securing the above information is obvious 
and need not be further dwelt upon. In addition, the blank 
also called for the classification of the male membership in the 
church, the young people 's society and Sunday-school under 
the following divisions : number under 16, number between 16 
and 40, number over 40. Provision was also made for taking 
a census of the attendance for four consecutive weeks at the 
morning and evening service, the weekly prayer-meeting, 



46 The Religious Condition of Young Men. 

young people 's meeting and Sunday-school, and for the same 
age classification of the males as was made in connection with 
the membership. It is difficult to appreciate the amount of 
labor involved in securing this information even from one small 
church. While no information was asked for that should not 
be at once accessible from church records, and only such 
things were asked for as every pastor of a church ought to 
know, at the same time it was expected that in the majority 
of cases church records would not be in such condition as that 
even this information could be secured. In this respect we 
were not disappointed. It was also realized that the persons 
detailed to make the investigation would not give the amount 
of time required to look up the records and take the attend- 
ance census. No pastor was requested either by mail or in 
person to prepare the blank in his own church, although many 
gave great assistance. Association members and secretaries 
were asked each to take a church, plan the work of secur- 
ing the information and divide the labor involved. About 
sixty-five of the blanks were put out shortly after April 1, 
1900, and records were received from only twenty-one of 
these. The eminently satisfactory character, however, of the 
information secured, and the representative nature of the 
records, lend special interest and weight to the results of the 
study. Of the twenty-one churches reporting [page 47], 
eight are Chicago city churches, five Chicago suburban 
churches, four at Elgin, Illinois, two at Sterling, Illinois, and 
two at Rockford, Illinois. They classify according to de- 
nominations as follows: Methodist Episcopal, 6; Baptist, 5; 
Presbyterian, 6; Congregational, 3; Lutheran, 1. In point of 
size they range all the way from a Swedish Methodist Church, 
with a membership of 100, to the Second Baptist Church of 
Chicago, with a membership of 1509. Nineteen of these 
churches report a total membership of 11,957, fourteen re- 
port a membership of 3091 males and 5828 females, or a 
proportion of 36 per cent males to 64 per cent females 
[page 48]. The numbers in the margin refer to churches 
on the list. The variation in the proportion of males to 



CHURCH MEMBERSHIP 



* 1. Swedish Methodist Episcopal 100 

2. Elgin Epworth Methodist Episcopal 136 

* 3. First United Presbyterian 205 

4. Sterling First Presbyterian 310 

** 5. Ravenswood Congregational 389 

** 6. Oak Park Baptist 398 

* 7. Ashland Boulevard Methodist Episcopal . . 400 

8. Sterling Lutheran 420 

9. Rockford Baptist 458 

10. Rockford Presbyterian 484 

** 11. Woodlawn Presbyterian 500 

* 12. Oakland Methodist Episcopal 650 

13. Elgin First Congregational 725 

** 14. Oak Park Congregational 895 

* 15. Centenary Methodist Episcopal 1000 

* 16. Third Presbyterian 1033 

17. Elgin First Baptist 1049 

* 18. Immanuel Baptist . . 1296 

* 19. Second Baptist 1509 

20. Elgin Grace Methodist Episcopal 

** 21. Ravenswood United Presbyterian 

* Chicago — City. ** Chicago — Suburban. 



CHURCH MEMBERSHIP 
BY SEX 



MALES 36% FEMALES 64% 

DISTRIBUTION OF MALES 



0% 


1 


0% 


20% 


30% 




40^ 


50% 


1 
























2 












<** 


.—- 


. — 


***** 






4 












*V 


^> 


n». 








5 














^ 


7 








6 














> 


\ 








7 
















■ / 








8 


























10 
















/ 








11 














i 


/ 








14 
















\ 








16 














[^ 


s 








17 
























18 














k 


s 








19 
















1 









Prepared by G. W. Ehler. 



( '// torch I n vt stigation. 49 

females is not very great, the highest proportion of males 
being 43 per cent in the Swedish church, just mentioned, 
and the smallest percentage being 22 per cent in the Elgin 
Epworth M. E. Church. Practically no difference is to be 
noted in the proportion of males to females between the various 
city, suburban and small-town churches. The proportion is 
strikingly uniform, and considering the representative char- 
acter of the churches reporting, the result is probably a 
close approximation of the average condition.* Eight of 
these churches with 37 per cent males and 63 per cent 
females, also report [page 50] a membership for 1895, five 
years ago, composed of 39 per cent males to 61 per cent 
females. Of this number again four give the membership 
for 1890, ten years ago. The proportion of males to females 
of these four churches for the three periods is as follows : 

1890 — 38 per cent males to 62 per cent females. 

1895 — 40 per cent males to 60 per cent females. 

1900 — 38 per cent males to 62 per cent females. 

As far as the records make report there has been practically 
no change in the proportion of males to females during the 
past decade. 

The first thing that had to be done after the reports were 
received was to tabulate the information on a large chart and 
reduce the figures given to percentages. The information 
was then in shape for a comparative study of the churches in- 
dividually or in groups respecting one or more items as was 
desired. Many most interesting points were disclosed by this 
study. For example [page 51]: eleven churches report on 
yearly accessions of males and females b} r letter and on con- 
fession since 1890. There is the widest variation among in- 
dividual churches in this regard. One church reports 80 
per cent of accessions by letter and only 20 per cent on 
confession, while another reports only 11 per cent by 
letter and 89 per cent on confession. Notwith- 
standing this variation, in all the churches reporting practi- 
callv one-half were received bv letter and one-half on con- 



*A similar study by Dr. Luther Gulick, of fifty churches scattered all over the coun- 
try shows a variation of only 1 or 2 per cent from the conditions presented above. 



CHURCH 

MEMBERSHIP 

BY SEX 



□ 



MALES 



FEMALES 



8 CHURCHES 




39% 

4 CHURCHES 




Prepared by G. W. Ehler. 



CHURCH ACCESSIONS 
1890 - 1899 



□ 



MALES 



FEMALES 



BY LETTER 



39% 



ON CONFESSION 




39% 61? 

DISTRIBUTION OF MALES 



o% 



20% 30% 40% 50% 



1 

2 

4 

5 

6 

8 

10 

11 

14 

16 

18 



' <^— 

I ^^ 

V* 

| [ I . i+x, 

I % m. 

1 — \^ 

*is 

I <— ^ 



CONFESSION 



Prepared by G. W. Ehler. 



52 The Religious Condition of Young Men. 

fession, while the percentage of males to females in each class 
is identically the same, viz. : 39 per cent to 61 per cent. 

Eleven churches [page 53] classify the male membership ac- 
cording to occupations. There is still to be noticed con- 
siderable variation among individual churches, but the 
average for eleven churches is as follows : professional, 23 per 
cent; mercantile, 40 per cent; skilled labor, 12 per cent; 
unskilled labor, 10 per cent; unclassified, 15 per cent. 

The diagram showing these percentages indicates plainly 
the relative condition in each church with reference to the 
different classes. It is also interesting to compare this table 
with the membership of the Chicago Central association 
classified in the same way [page 56], showing how the associa- 
tion differs from the church in the degree to which it has men 
of different occupations in its membership. The church and 
the association are continually being censured for failure to 
reach the great class of artisans. If the present study is any 
index of the real conditions in the country at large the charge 
is not without foundation. Associations as a rule, however, 
would show a higher percentage of the artisan class than the 
Central Department, Chicago, but it should be ascertained if 
we are reaching that class proportionately. 

* Eight churches report 36 per cent males to 64 per cent 
females [page 54]. The male members classify by ages [page 55] 
as follows: under 16, 13 per cent; between 16 and 40, 53 per 
cent; over 40,34 per cent. Ten young people's societies report 
325 males and 675 females, or a percentage of 32 to 68. Of 
these 325 males 6 per cent are under 16, 84 per cent be- 
tween 16 and 40, and 10 per cent over 40. Eleven Sunday- 
schools report 484 males to 616 females, or a percentage of 44 
to 56. Of these 484 males in the Sunday-school, 57 per cent 
are under 16, 37 per cent between 16 and 40, and 6 per cent 
over 40. 

Bringing together these facts of membership in church, Sun- 
day-school and young people 's society, we note at a glance the 
characteristic differences. 

*The two charts referred to in this paragraph [pages 54-55] should be studied together, 
as each bar of the second supplements the corresponding bar of the first. 



OCCUPATIONS 
OF CHURCH MEMBERS 

J UNCLASSIFIED | SKILLED LABOR 1 PROFESSIONAL 
J UNSKILLED LABOR J MERCANTILE 


| 


15% 10% 12% 40% 23% 

DISTRIBUTION OF OCCUPATIONS 

% 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 


1 

2 
4 
5 
7 
8 

10 
11 
14 
16 
17 







































































































































































































































Prepared by G. W. Ehler. 



SEX 
OF MEMBERS of 



MALES 



FEMALES 




OF ATTENDANTS AT 




13 SUNDAY 
SCHOOLS 



15 PRAYER 
MEETINGS 



67^ 



Prepared by G. AV. Ehler. 



AGE GROUPS 
OF MALE MEMBERS 

OF CHURCHES, SUNDAY=SCHOOLS, 
YOUNQ PEOPLE'S SOCIETIES 



UNDER 16 



□ 



16 TO 40 



OVER 40 



! CHURCHES 





13% 




53% 


34% 




10 Y. PEOPLES 
SOCIETIES 


■ 












6% 




847c 




10% 


II SUNDAY 
SCHOOLS 










■ 






57% 




37% 


6% 



OF ATTENDANTS AT 



21% 



19 P. M. 
SERVICES 



1 6 Y. PEOPLES 
SOCIETIES | 



13 SUNDAY 
SCHOOLS 



15 PRAYER 
MEETINGS 



12% 



16% 



9% 



47% 



61% 



67> 



55% 



59% 




36% 



9% 



32% 



Prepared by G. W . Ehler. 



OCCUPATIONS 
COMPARED 



I UNCLASSIFIED || 



SKILLED LABOR 'ri'-JM PROFESSIONAL 



UNSKILLED LABOR MERCANTILE 



CHURCHES 



15% 10% 12% 40% 



23% 



ASSOCIATION 

CENTRAL DEPARTMENT ONLY 



7% 10% 



66% 



15% 



Prepared by G. W. Ehler. 



Church Investigation. 57 

Census of Attendance. 

Eighteen churches report attendance at morning service as 
follows: 34 per cent males; 66 per cent females. Males 
classify under 16, 21 per cent; 16 to 40, 47 per cent over 
40, 32 per cent. 

Nineteen churches report evening attendance: males, 
36 per cent; females, 64 per cent. Males classify under 
16, 12 per cent; between 16 and 40, 61 per cent; over 40, 27 
per cent. 

Sixteen churches report attendance at young people's so- 
ciety : males, 37 per cent ; females, 63 per cent. Males classify 
under 16, 16 per cent; 16 to 40, 67 per cent; over 40, 17 per 
cent. 

Thirteen churches report Sunday-school attendance : males, 
40 percent; females, 60 per cent. Males under 16, do per 
cent; between 16 and 40, 36 per cent; over 40, 9 per cent. 

Fifteen churches report prayer-meeting attendance : males, 
33 per cent; females, 67 per cent. Males classify under 16, 
9 per cent; 16 to 40, 59 percent; over 40, 32 per cent. 

Bringing together for the purpose of comparative study 
these figures concerning attendance, we note two things: 
first, a considerable difference in the division of the males in 
the three age periods; second, the extraordinary regularity 
with which the proportion of males to females in attendance 
at these five different services approximates the proportion of 
males to females in the membership of the church, which we 
found at the beginning to be 36 to 64. It is evident that if 
the churches have on their rolls any number of members who 
do not attend services, the proportions of males to females are 
preserved by the attendance at the services of a corresponding 
number who are not members of the organization. 

Statistics concerning Sunday-school teachers, officers in 
young people's societies and leaders in young people's meet- 
ings show the following proportions of males and females, 
respectively: Sunday-school teachers, 35 per cent to 65 per 
cent; officers in young people's societies, 46 per cent to 54 
percent; leaders, 55 per cent to 45 per cent. It is in con- 



58 The Religious Condition of Young Men. 

nection with the leadership of the young people's meetings 
that we find for the first time a larger percentage of males 
than females. 

We have not considered it within the province of this Study 
to attempt to do more than present the real condition. 
It is for others to show why this condition obtains, and to 
tell us how it can be improved. It may not be amiss, 
however, at this stage of the discussion, to call attention to 
the reasons advanced by Professor Coe, to whose book previous 
allusion has been made, in discussing this very question. 
He gives the following reasons, which we present without dis- 
cussion : 

First. Men are under greater industrial and economic 
pressure than women, and have less time for worship and 
other religious exercises. 

Second. Men find greater dissatisfaction with the church 
and its attitude toward industrial problems and movements. 

Third. The church is suffering partial paralysis, due to 
her lack of whole-hearted sympathy with the modern intel- 
lect. She desires light, yet distrusts the light bringers. 

Fourth. The reason considered by Professor Coe as the 
greatest of all, and the one he started out to prove, is 
that the large and persistent excess of women in the churches 
is chiefly due to a superior adaptation of church life to the 
feminine nature. "It is because the church looks at things 
with feminine eyes and calls chiefly into exercise the faculties 
in which women excel men. ' ' 

In a previous discussion on the relation of music to the 
spiritual life, Professor Coe made an analysis of the Methodist 
Hymnal, and furnishes on page 225 of his book the following 
striking exhibit: 

Number of hymns in the entire collection 1117 

Number of hymns on Christ, the Christian and 

the Church ' 608 

On Life and Character of Christ, Christian 
Activity and Church Work 144 



Church Investigation. 59 

On the Life Activities of Christ, Christian 
Activity and Charities and Reforms, all ob- 
jectively viewed 17 

Quoting further: "In other words, less than 24 per cent 
of the hymns on Christ, the Christian and the Church have to 
do with the life and character of Christ, Christian activity and 
church work. Again, less than 3 per cent of the said hymns 
on Christ, the Christian and Church treat of the life ac- 
tivities of Christ, Christian activity and charities and reforms 
in an objective spirit. Finally, it follows that of the entire 
collection only about 1 \ per cent take up the practical prob- 
lems of the every-day activities of the adult Christian in this 
spirit. ' ' Now, all of this is of the greatest moment to us as 
religious workers. May not the explanation of the condition 
of the religious work of the association lie in some of these 
same reasons given for present conditions in the church? 
Similar considerations have led some to agitate for a change 
in the character of song-books used in connection with associa- 
tion services. 



CHAPTER V. 

A GROUP STUDY. 

I^HE i l questionnaire ' ' method was employed in connection 
with the last phase of study. The classification of the 
membership and the church investigation had thrown 
light on some of the points concerning which information was 
desired. Especially did they reveal the hold the church and 
association have upon young men. The " questionnaire 7 ' 
method, employed so much of late in empirical studies, was 
the means used to secure information from the members 
themselves. If a list of questions properly prepared, would 
be intelligently answered by young men themselves, we would 
be in possession of valuable information that could be ob- 
tained in no other way. To know from the young men them- 
selves what they do in regard to certain practices, their de- 
sires and opinions, their ambitions and ideals, and numerous 
other things, is of the greatest importance. None of the 
other lines of study would ever furnish material of this kind. 
Impelled, therefore, by the desire to find out if it were possi- 
ble to learn anything by this means, an experimental question 
list was prepared asking for information about practically 
everything it was thought it would be desirable to know. It 
was not known whether any replies would be received. 
The circular containing the questions reads as follows : 

Dear Sir: 

Your co-operation is very earnestly desired b}^ the Young 
Men's Christian Association in an endeavor it is making to 
secure a fuller and more exact knowledge of its members and 
other men, in order better to understand their needs and de- 
sires, and thus enable it to improve its service. You can give 
very material service by frank and full answers to the follow- 
ing questions. No public use will be made of the data that 
will reflect upon those answering. Your name is not desired 



62 The Religious Condition of Young Men. 

and no effort will be made to discover it. Mail this in the en- 
closed envelope not later than May 1, 1900. 

1 — (a.) Member of department of the 

association. (b.) Member years of the associa- 
tion, (c.) What first led you to join the association? (d.) 
What is your chief interest in it now? (e.) What privileges 
do you regularly use? 

2— (a.) Age at last birthday, (b.) Birthplace of self, 
father, mother. (Give state if in the United States, other- 
wise country.) (c.) What is your usual state of health ? 
How much ill-health or physical indisposition have you had 
during the past year? 

3 — (a.) In what business or profession are you engaged? 
(b.) What is your position in it? (Do not use term " Clerk" 
if you are a salesman.) (c.) If you are an employe, what is 
your monthly salary or wage? (d.) Is your employment 
regular or irregular? (e.) What are your hours of employ- 
ment? (f.) How much overtime do you work and when? 
(g.) Do you work Sundays? (h.) Do you have Saturday 
half-holidays? When? (i.) What are your hours of sleep? 
Are they regular? Do you sleep well? 

4 — (a.) Are you married? At what age did you marry? 
(b.) If single, do you live at home, in public boarding-house, 
or board in a private f amity? (c.) If married, do you board 
or keep house? (d.) What are your expenses for board and 
room? 

5 — (a.) How far through college or school did you go? 
What college did you attend? (b.) What special lines of 
study do you follow? In school or alone? How much time 
do you devote to them? (c.) What periodicals do you usu- 
ally read? (d.) What books (bound or unbound of any kind) 
have you read during the past six months? 

6 — (a.) To what other organizations do you belong? 
(Give names and state whether secret.) (1.) Social? (2.) 
Political? (3.) Fraternal? (4.) Religious? (5.) Scientific? 
(6.) Professional? (7.) Labor? (8.)^Civic? (9.) Business? 
(10.) Military? (11.) Miscellaneous? 



A Group Study. 63 

7 — (a.) Do you attend any of the following, and if so, state 
denomination, where and how often: (1.) Church, A. M.; 
P. M.? (2.) Sunday-school? (3.) Prayer-meeting? (4.) 
Other religious services? Why do you, or why do you not, 
attend? Do you attend more or less than formerly, and 
why? (b.) If you do not attend an}^ of these now. did you 
at any time in the past? Which? Denomination? At what 
age did you stop? Why did you stop? (c.) Are you a 
member of any church? Which? Why are you, or why are 
you not? (d.) Are you a professing Christian? If not, why 
not? Do you expect ever to be? Do you believe in the 
Christian life? What is your conception of the Christian 
life? (e.) What is your attitude toward religion? Toward 
the association as a religious institution? (f.) How do you 
usually spend Sunday? (g.) What was the religious in- 
fluence of your family upon you? 

8 — (a.) In what form do you use tobacco and how often? 
Cigarettes? Cigars? Pipe? Chew? (b.) In what form do 
you use stimulants and to what extent? Coffee? Tea? 
Malt Liquor? Spirituous Liquor? Morphine, etc.? (c.) 
What desirable results do you secure from the use of these? 
(d.) What undesirable results do you observe from the use of 
them? 

9— (a.) What is your attitude and practice in regard to the 
following, and what do you think of their good or bad effects : 
(1.) Dancing? (2.) Cards? (3.) Billiards and pool? (4.) 
Theater? (5.) Gambling? (b.) State fully and explicitly 
as possible in what manner you spend your leisure time, (c.) 
In what does your social life consist? 

10 — (a.) Did you ever practice masturbation? At what 
age did you begin? Under what circumstances did you be- 
gin? When did you stop? Why? If you have not quit, 
why not? (b.) Did you ever engage in sexual intercourse 
out of wedlock? Do you now? How often? If you do or 
do not, will you state why? In your opinion what is the at- 
titude of the average girl or woman on this subject? 

11 — What are your personal ambitions in regard to (a.) 



64 The Religious Condition of Young Men. 

Your business and profession? (b.) Marriage and a family? 
(c.) Morally (as to your conduct, etc.)? (d.) Religiously 
(your relation to God and Christ and the hereafter)? (e.) 
Tn what definite ways are you helping other people or doing 
things not primarily for yourself? 

12 — What, if any, of the things mentioned in questions 
7, 8, 9 and 10, or any other thing, prevents you from attaining 
the ambitions you have set up for yourself as stated in ques- 
tion 11? 

The circular was not sent to the entire membership of the 
association. None were even put out by mail. About 350 
were handed out personally by the secretaries to members, 
with the statement that if they cared to fill out the blank and 
hand in the same to do so. It was anticipated that it would 
require considerable time for the average member to answer 
intelligently all the questions. This is no doubt a chief rea- 
son why more answers were not received. One member tes- 
tified that he took a whole afternoon and evening in working 
over the blank. The second reason, however, which doubt- 
less operated to prevent a larger number of replies was the 
unwillingness to answer frankly the questions under No. 10. 
Criticisms were heard from two or three quarters against the 
plan of circulating such a petition. On the other hand, how- 
ever, the seventy-two answers received were on the whole so 
satisfactory and so representative, as far as can be seen from 
studying the records, that the plan needs no further 
justification. 

Bearing in mind then that this phase of the club's work 
was largely an experiment, and that the purpose of its pre- 
sentation here is for illustrating method rather than for the 
value of the results secured, it will not be necessary to em- 
phasize further the fact that no special claim is made for the 
general value of the conclusions. At the same time the study 
of the material has naturally brought out much that is not 
only interesting in itself but is strongly suggestive of what 
further investigation might bring forth. 

Before any use whatever could be made of the answers it 



^l Group Study. 65 

was necessary to tabulate the same. It is impossible to pre- 
sent on this occasion all that is suggested and revealed by a 
study of the chart. A general description of the contents and 
of a few of the most striking revelations must suffice. Of 
the seventy-two men answering, forty-three were professing 
Christians and twenty-nine were non-Christians. In ages 
they range from 15 to 60. The average age of the en- 
tire number is something over 25. Fourteen of the men were 
foreigners, and a noticeable fact is that twelve of the 
fourteen were professing Christians. This fact is of value 
later when we study the habits in regard to church member- 
ship and attendance of the two classes of men. In point of 
health fifty-six stated good and sixteen bad, ten of whom are 
non-Christians. This fact also has an important bearing. 
Each group has a proportionate representation in the dif- 
ferent occupations — professional, mercantile, skilled and un- 
skilled. Nine of the entire group are married men; forty- 
eight live at home. Twenty-six received their education in 
grammar schools, twenty-two in high schools, seven in business 
colleges, seven in colleges and universities, one in a law school, 
one in a medical school, one from a tutor and five unstated. 

Little difference is to be noted in the character and num- 
ber of periodicals specified by the two classes. An excellent 
class of books in the main was reported by both groups of men. 
In order of popularity with non-Christians were : David Harum, 
Richard Carvel, To Have and to Hold, Janice Meredith, The 
Little Minister, Ben Hur, Quo Vadis, The Honorable Peter 
Stirling, When Knighthood Was In Flower, Les Miser ables, 
What a Young Husband Ought to Know, and Sapho. The 
books most frequently read by the Christians in the order 
of their popularity were : Janice Meredith, Richard Carvel, 
David Harum, Les Miserables, The Honorable Peter Stirling, 
In His Steps, Emerson's Essays. A large number of volumes 
of the same general character had been read by single indi- 
viduals of both classes. 

Thirty-one of the professing Christians are members of 
evangelical churches, three of non-evangelical churches, 



66 The Religious Condition of Young Men. 

eight not members of churches and one unstated. It is in- 
teresting to note the reasons given by some of these eight 
professing Christians for not belonging to the church. One 
"doesn't want to assume church obligations/' another "never 
had the desire to join," another "does not believe that 
churches are run properly," another "does not want to adapt 
his belief to any certain creed," and another gives "insuffi- 
cient interest" as his excuse. 

Four of the non-Christians are members of churches. Of 
this number two were brought up in the Lutheran church, 
one is a Catholic, and another a self-confessed backslider. 
Out of nineteen of the non-Christians who state positively 
that they are not professing Christians, thirteen state that 
they believe in the Christian life. Altogether twenty-one out 
of the twenty-nine express the same belief. This is a strong 
index of the extent to which men give acquiescence to the 
Christian religion even though they themselves make no pro- 
fession. The very fact that these men are members of the 
association would of course argue a certain degree of sympathy 
with Christian things. On the other hand, it is a matter of 
frequent comment that a great change has taken place in the 
last few years in the attitude of the great masses of people 
toward Christianity. Only twenty years ago Tom Paine 
clubs were numerous. Infidel literature was sold freely on 
the trains, and numerous other evidences were shown of con- 
tempt for Christianity and things religious. A complete 
change in the atmosphere of collegiate life to our own knowl- 
edge has been brought about within the last fifteen years. 

When it comes to expectation, however, only four of these 
men state that they have any expectation of becoming 
Christians. Four state positively that they do not expect to, 
three "hope so," eight "don't know," i. e., are indifferent, 
while ten do not make reply to this question. 

If the facts concerning the present group reflect in any de- 
gree of accuracy, the attitude of the great masses of non- 
Christian young men, we have here indicated one of the 
greatest encouragements and one of the greatest problems 



A Group Study. 67 

before the church and association today. Never before has 
Christianity so commended itself to the attention and to the 
respect of all intelligent classes of people. This is certainly 
encouraging. On the other hand, if it is impossible to use 
this fact for the purpose of bringing men into open affiliation 
with the church and Christian things, something is radically 
wrong. It is one thing to give intellectual assent to Chris- 
tianity; it is another thing to follow the example of Christ 
in one's individual life. Unless conditions in this regard 
can be changed in the coming years, there are some reasons 
why it might be better for the cause of Christianity that the 
intellectual assent with failure to conform be turned into 
unbelief and open hostility. As seen above, most of these men 
believe in the Christian life. In addition, most of the men 
never expect to become Christians. In analyzing the cases 
of the four men who say they do not expect to become Chris- 
tians, we find one is a Jew, one is a socialist whose family 
influence was not religious and whose personal life is bad, one 
is a moralist, who had no special home training when 
young, the fourth proclaims himself an agnostic and de- 
clares his home training so strict when young as to make him 
hate all religious exercises. His personal life is not above 
reproach. Analyzing the records of the eight men 
who do not know whether they expect to become 
Christians or not, we note that in every case but one the 
family influence was in keeping with such an outcome, and all 
but one hold liberal views on amusements. 

Coming to the replies to question No. 10, we find 
some unusual developments. With reference to the prac- 
tice of masturbation, thirty-one of the Christians state 
that they have indulged in this practice in the past. 
The average age when twenty-eight of these men began 
is 13 years and 9 months. The youngest age given for 
starting is 7, the oldest 20. The year of greatest fre- 
quency is 14, eleven of the respondents having started 
at that period. The average age of twenty when they stopped 
the practice was 17 years and 6 months, ranging all the way 



68 The Religious Condition of Young Men. 

from 14 to 27 years. The year of greatest frequency of 
stopping was 17, the age given by five of the respondents. 
Seven of these professing Christians confess to not having 
quit the practice yet. The reasons given by these men will 
be considered later. Turning now to the replies of the non- 
Christians on this point, we find that out of twenty-nine such, 
fifteen say "Yes, " eight say "No," and six do not answer. 
The average age of the fifteen when they began the practice 
was 13 years and 3 months, the years of greatest frequency 
being 13 and 14. One started as young as 7 and two as late 
as 17. The average age when twelve quit the practice was 
18 years and 6 months. Only one of these men confessed to 
not having entirely stopped. The average duration of the 
practice for the Christians was 3 years and 9 months and 
for non-Christians 5 years and 3 months. The fact 
that stands out prominently in this connection is that 
seven professing Christians continue the practice to 
some extent, while only one non-Christian makes a similar 
confession. The reason for this unexpected condition is not 
far to seek when we pass to a similar inquiry with reference to 
the practice of the two groups in regard to illicit sexual inter- 
course. Only fourteen professing Christians confess to 
having indulged at any time in the past, while twenty-six say 
"No. ' ' Only three fail to reply on this point. As to the present 
practice in this regard, three say "Yes," and thirty-six say 
"No." Three do not reply. The non-Christians, however, 
show somewhat differently, as might be expected. Fif 
teen say they indulged in the past, the same number that 
practiced the first. Nine say "No." While as to present 
practices, nine of the fifteen who indulged in the past still 
continue. 

Summing up the comparison of the two groups with refer- 
ence to both temptations, we find that out of thirty-one 
Christians practicing the former in the past, seven, or 23 
per cent still continue ; while of fifteen non-Christians who 
practiced the same in the past, only one continues. But, in 
connection with the second practice, only 21 per cent of the 



A Group Study. 69 

professing Christians still indulge, while 60 per cent of the non- 
Christians still do. It, therefore, develops that the explana- 
tion why more professing Christians continue the first prac- 
tice than non-Christians lies in the fact that the non-Chris- 
tians take up and continue the practice of the second, which 
Christian men refrain from doing. The relation then be- 
tween the two evils is thus apparent. Studying the. indi- 
vidual records of the seven Christian men who are not wholly 
free from the first sin, we find that five are putting up a 
hard fight, one has well nigh given up the struggle, and one 
continues, as he states, a on the advice of a medical college." 
The reasons given by the other class of men for continuing the 
second practice may be summed up in the desire to gratify 
passion and failure to recognize the sin involved. Studying 
the reasons given by six others who discontinued the second 
practice, it is seen that they are practically all of a materialistic 
character, none displaying any moral tone. The reasons given 
by eleven Christian men for discontinuing this latter practice, 
begun before they became Christians, are of another stamp 
entirely. Nearly all of them show a high moral tone, and 
the presence of an influence absent from the other group. 
It may be said by some that the two groups under discussion 
are not representative of young men as a class, or even of the 
membership of the association. It may be that they are 
better, and it may be that they are worse; we do not know. 
Study of the entire records of the individual men would seem 
to indicate that they are an average lot, and there are many 
reasons for believing that concerning temptations of the flesh 
they fitly represent the majority of young men. Nothing 
will take the place of continued investigation for 
clearing up this point. The conspicuous thing we 
notice is that during the period from 12 to 18 all young 
men seem to be in special danger largely because of 
ignorance. This only emphasizes the need of the association 
exerting a positive influence on the young boy who is " almost 
a man." Good books on the subject should be put into the 
hands of young men before the harm is done. The state- 



70 The Religious Condition of Young Men. 

ment of one member that he never realized the wrong until 
a good book fell into his hands by accident, and his plea for 
good books for other young men shows an opportunity 
almost entirely neglected. The Central Department is 
endeavoring to discharge this obligation by offering for sale 
books of the Self and Sex Series, the sale of which it is 
definitely known in two instances has resulted in untold good. 

Before leaving the consideration of these data, it may be inter- 
esting to examine the practice of the men with reference to the 
use of tobacco and the attitude of the two groups on amuse- 
ments. Thirty-three professing Christians report on the use 
of tobacco, thirty-two answering in the negative. The one 
who replied "Yes" was a boy 16 years of age, who 
smoked cigars occasionally. His attitude on the amusement 
question was liberal. Twenty-seven out of the twenty-nine 
non-Christians also report on tobacco, fifteen of whom do 
not use it at all. None under 20 years of age of those 
reporting make any use of tobacco. Of those using to- 
bacco, eight smoke cigars, seven a pipe, six cigarettes and 
one chews. 

Passing now to amusements, we find a most interesting 
comparison. Presenting the opinions as given respecting the 
different forms of amusement, under the three heads of 
Approval, Approval Under Restrictions and Condemnation, 
we have the following table : 



ATTITUDE ON AMUSEMENTS. 

PROFESSING CHRISTIANS 

Approval 
Approval. Under Restriction. Condemnation.. 

Dancing 8 6 11 

Cards 3 9 12 

Billiards and Pool . . 2 5 9 

Theater 5 15 6 

Gambling 26 



A Group Study. 71 

ATTITUDE ON AMUSEMENTS. 
NON-CHRISTIANS 

Approval 
Approval. Under Restriction. Condemnation. 

Dancing 9 13 2 

Cards 6 13 1 

Billiards and Pool . . 5 12 

Theater 12 15 1 

Gambling 3 16 

Among professing Christians a certain number approve 
the first four, a somewhat larger number approve the 
same under restrictions, while by far the largest number 
disapprove these forms except in the case of the theater, 
where a noticeably small number disapprove outright. 
Among non-Christians we find exactly what we might have 
reason to expect. A goodly number approve outright the 
first four forms, and the remaining with one or two exceptions 
approve under restrictions, only four disapproving. The 
condemnation of gambling is practically unanimous in both 
cases. As represented on the table, we see that the votes of 
the second chart are practically confined to the first two 
columns, while in the first table they are distributed over all 
the columns, the larger number being in the third. 

We have not begun to exhaust the possibilities of study of 
even this amount of information. We have tried to give a 
general idea of the character of the contents and to demon- 
strate some of the directions in which fruitful study might be 
made. A word at this time with reference to the sincerity of 
the answers might be in order. As stated on the blank, the 
names of the respondents were not desired and no effort was 
made to secure them. The reasons that might be advanced 
to support the genuineness of the records are the following : 

First. The absence of any motive to furnish an untruthful 
record. 

Second. The internal evidences of veracity in the records 
themselves. One cannot read any of the records through with- 
out recognizing its coherency and consistency throughout. A 



72 The Religious Condition of Young Men. 

fabrication would betray itself at every point. After a study 
of these records in all their bearings, the personality of the 
individuals stands out in a remarkable way. As a matter 
of fact, there is no need of the names of the men. We are in 
possession of sufficient in these records to form an adequate 
and correct idea of the different individuals. 

Additional time might profitably be expended on these data, 
First, in making a comparative study of the various con- 
ceptions given of the Christian life. As a matter of fact, the 
conception's given by non-Christians are quite as good as 
those given by Christians. Not quite as much religious 
phraseology is employed, but the content of the ideas ad- 
vanced is practically the same. Second, a comparative study 
of Sabbath observance of the two groups. Third, how the 
leisure time of individuals in the two groups is employed. 
Fourth, a comparative study of the ambitions of the two 
groups of men respecting business, family, morals and religion. 
Fifth, a comparative study of what the individuals of the two 
groups are doing in the way of helping others. This 
ought to bring out some very interesting matter. Sixth, a 
comparative study of the hindrances which stand in the 
way of attaining their ideals. 

This and much more might be studied, but it is reasonable 
to assume that if investigations similar to these were made in 
different cities and for different classes of young men, both 
within and without the membership of the association, some 
of the most valuable material for studying the actual religious 
condition of young men would be secured. It is difficult to 
see how information of this kind could be obtained in any 
other way. 

Summary and Conclusion. 

In conclusion, and by way of summary, we have attempted 
in this Study to give the results of three main lines of inves- 
tigation : 

First. We have compared the field of the city and town 
association work in the United States, in the State of Illinois, 



A Group Study. 73 

and in the city of Chicago, with the membership of the asso- 
ciation and have illustrated by the classification of the mem- 
bership of the Central Department, Chicago, the value to a 
local association of knowing the composition of its member- 
ship. 

Second. The church investigation has revealed the kind 
of information a local association ought to have concern- 
ing the churches of the community, and also the information 
it is possible to get. 

Third. The question list has illustrated another method 
by which we may get from representative young men them- 
selves definite information which can be secured in no other 
way. 

It is not necessary to reiterate the statement that the pri- 
mary aim of the Study has been to emphasize method rather 
than results. The results, as far as obtained, have, we trust, 
served to illustrate the methods, to demonstrate their feasi- 
bility and to prove that the extended use of the same or 
similar methods would result in inestimable gain to our work. 
The Study is presented in the hope that it may be of some 
service to the work at large and that some practical organiza- 
tion may spring up as a result whereby all desiring to co- 
operate in further study and investigation similar to what 
is herein suggested maybe enabled to ll associate their efforts 
for the extension of Christ's Kingdom among young men. " 



APPENDIX. 



IMPROVED METHOD FOR TABULATING MEMBERSHIP 
INFORMATION. 



THE method here described is designed as apart of a per- 
manent membership record. It is on the card index 
plan, and those familiar with the same will see at once 
its advantages. In the tab system used in most associations 
for indicating monthly expirations there are, of course, twelve 
positions — one for each month ; and the tabs for the same one 
month fall in line in the drawer as illustrated. 




76 



Appendix. 



The present scheme uses only nine of these twelve posi- 
tions; all but the sixth, eleventh and twelfth, as shown be- 
low\ 




The occupations used represent the main divisions in the 
United States census, and are definite enough for all practical 
purposes. Each group may be easily subdivided, if desired. 
Each card has three tabs, indicating the following three 
things: (1) Occupation. (2) Active or associate. (3) 
New or old. (By a new member is meant one who has 
joined within a year.) 

Every member will be first classified under one of the oc- 
cupations and consequently every card will have a tab in one 
of the first five positions. Further, every member so classi- 
fied by occupation will be either active or associate, and new 
or old. Therefore, a member classified under mercantile 
would require a card with one of the four following arrange- 
ments of tabs: (1) Mercantile, active, new r . (2) Mercan- 
tile, active, old. (3) Mercantile, associate, new. (4) 
Mercantile, associate, old. By having cards with three tabs, 
each in the right position to suit these combinations, the 



Appendix. 



77 



facts are automatically tabulated when the cards are placed 
in the drawer. Since there are four combinations with ref- 
erence to each occupation and since there are five occupa- 
tions, our classification is increased from 4 to 5x4=20. Hav- 
ing four different classes of membership concerning each of 
which it is desired to tabulate the above information sepa- 
rately, viz.: regular, special, junior and intermediate, the use 
of cards of four different colors — buff, blue, salmon and white, 
increases the classification from 5x4 = 20 to 5x4x4 = 80. Be- 
fore one is able to pick out from stock the card suited to any 
member's case, he must know four things respecting him: 
(1) The kind of a member he is. (2) His occupation. (3) 
Whether he is active or associate. (4) Whether he is new 
or old. In case the man is a regular member, a clerk, a 
member of an evangelical church, and in his first year in the 
association, his case according to the system would require 
a buff card with tabs in the 1st, 7th and 9th positions, as 
illustrated. 



/merV_ 










ADDRESS 




-A 


iyy\ 










NAME 


MONTH 


AGE 










DISTANCE 






NATIVITY 
SELF 


AM. 


ENG. 


SCO. 


IR. 


CAN. 


GER. 


SCA. 


MIS. 













































The rest of the information concerning the individual can 
be indicated on the card which is printed for that purpose. 
All the cards are printed alike, with the exception of the 
tabs. A drawing of a complete set of twenty cards is here 
presented. 

L.ofC. 



78 



Appendix. 




DISTANCE 



NATIVITY 
SELF 



ENG. SCO. IR. CAN. GER. SCA. M 



CHURCH 
ATT. 



PRIVILEGES 



RENEWEL 



An idea of the relative number of each class of membership 
is had from the colors of the cards ; of each occupation from 
the tabs in each of the first five rows; of the proportion of 
active and associate, and of new and old from the tabs in 
rows seven to ten, inclusive. More than this, if one should 
like to know if there are more renewals proportionately 
among the active than among the associate, it can readily be 
ascertained. Likewise, a comparative study can be made 
of each occupation with reference to the items active, asso- 
ciate, new and old. All this can be done without going into 
the information entered on the body of the cards. But if it 
is desired, for example, to study comparatively the church- 



Appendix. 79 

going habits of the regular, new members engaged in mer- 
cantile pursuits, with the special, old members in professional 
occupations, the cards containing this information can 
quickly be separated from the balance and by counting the 
check marks involved, the study is complete, and the desired 
information secured. Under no other system is it possible 
to tabulate information for use in this way, always preserving 
the identity of each member. It is only necessary to experi- 
ment with the system to see how serviceable it may be. The 
system may be supplemented by a membership classification 
book, for use in entering the information day by day, bring- 
ing down the totals for the week, the month, and the year. 
This is of value in certain studies limited to periods of time, 
but not for comparative group studies. The book is arranged 
with a column for each item of information, a page being 
large enough for a month's business. Such a book would 
not be alphabetical, of course, and would not keep track of 
the individual. It would simply give totals under each item 
for a certain day, week, month, or year. No argument ought 
to be necessary for a system which will thus answer any ques- 
tion regarding the membership. Whatever reason is given 
for asking questions on the application blanks in the first 
place is the reason for using that information in the develop- 
ment of the work. In the vaults of our associations there are 
probably hundreds of thousands of applications of young 
men who have belonged to the association in the past. They 
contain certain information which, if in any shape for use, 
would be invaluable to the church and the association and to 
students of sociology. The use of the present system, which 
can be adapted to any field, would mark a great forward step. 
Any inquiries for sample cards or further information about 
the system will be cheerfully answered. 



July- a. i&Ul 



JUN 



1901 



